T his year’s Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee Conference will feature workshops, networking opportunities and talks by the
mayor of Fitchburg and an inclusion specialist
— both of whom will address the challenges that
members of minority groups face as they attain
leadership positions and the need to continuously
nurture diversity.

The event will be held Dec. 6 and 7 at the
Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center.

The conference, which is open to all MTA
members, offers
educators the perfect
opportunity to build
skills, connect
with and support
others with similar
interests and experiences, and expand professional
networks.

EMAC Chair Christine Boseman said she is
eager to hear the speakers describe the roadblocks
they faced on their way to leadership positions. She
added that MTA members also want to learn about
strategies successfully employed by members of
minority groups who work in climates that do not
always welcome diversity.

“People want and need to hear positive feedbackon how to succeed,” she said. “Because diversity isour target point, we would like to know what theycan share.”The conference will kick off on Friday withregistration starting at 5 p.m., followed by dinner anda keynote speech by Fitchburg Mayor Lisa A. Wong.Wong, now serving her third term, was first electedto the post in 2007 at the age of 28.

She is the first minority mayor of Fitchburgand the first female Asian-American mayor inMassachusetts. Wong will speak about how herexperiences have shaped her opportunities andchallenges. Areception with linedancing and lessonswill follow the meal.

Saturdaymorning workshopsare “Keeping Alive Our Commitment to ‘Justicefor All,’” “Networking: There’s More than OneWay to Do It” and “Family and Community SchoolPartnerships.” Saturday afternoon workshops aretitled “An Introduction to Facing History andOurselves,” “English Language Learner Cultureand Equity” and “Critical Analysis of the Portrayalsof African-Americans in the Movies Django and

Lincoln.”The lunchtime speaker on Saturday will be JuanNuñez, a recognized expert in diversity management,employee relations and affirmative action.

The former UMass Boston chief diversity
officer works with organizations as an inclusion
specialist to build welcoming and supportive
workplaces. Nuñez has also been vice president
for diversity and compliance at the Fashion
Institute of Technology and director of regional
compliance for the New York State Department of
Transportation.

An MTA Benefits giveaway will be held during
evening festivities on Friday. Another will follow the
Saturday afternoon session.

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